Hawaii News Archives - The Garden Island

La‘akea Chun joins Kaua‘i Charter Commission

Apr. 25, 2024 • Updated 8:10 p.m.

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Charter Commission has a new commissioner in La‘akea Chun following the unanimous approval from the Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday during its scheduled meeting at the historic County Building.

Mitsunaga ordered to remain in jail for duration of trial

Apr. 25, 2024

HONOLULU — A federal magistrate judge ordered prominent Hawai‘i businessman and political donor Dennis Mitsunaga to remain jailed for the duration of his public corruption trial because of alleged witness tampering.

Maui mayor seeks more money to cover wildfire costs

Apr. 25, 2024 • Updated 8:11 p.m.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is making an overtime plea to state lawmakers for more Lahaina wildfire recovery funding.

Gov. Green pledges to sign rentals legislation

Apr. 25, 2024 • Updated 8:11 p.m.

HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday pledged to sign a bill into law that would give each county clear authority over vacation rentals — including the possibility of banning them — if it arrives on his desk, as expected.

City touts ‘sustainable’ projects near Skyline

Apr. 24, 2024

HONOLULU — On Earth Day, Honolulu officials rode the city’s driverless, all-electric Skyline trains to not only tout the benefits of mass transit but laud current and future sustainable projects along the West O‘ahu line.

Kapa‘a house fire causes $500K in damage

Apr. 24, 2024 • Updated 8:16 p.m.

KAPA‘A — A residential fire displaced three people and caused an estimated $500,000 in damage on Saturday evening.

Hawaiian Paradise Park shooting captured on video

Apr. 24, 2024 • Updated 8:35 a.m.

HILO, Hawai‘i — A 31-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park man admitted shooting an acquaintance Friday morning — and there is video footage of the incident, according to court documents filed by police.

Senate joins House in failing to ‘decriminalize’ cannabis

Apr. 24, 2024 • Updated 8:14 p.m.

The full state Senate on Monday killed the last chance this legislative session to make marijuana use more lenient by increasing amounts of possession while reducing fines.

UH-Hilo faces enrollment challenges

Apr. 24, 2024 • Updated 7:53 p.m.

Fall enrollment at the University of Hawai‘i in Hilo was down last year, continuing a years-long trend.

‘Gut and replace’ bill pending at Legislature

Apr. 23, 2024

HONOLULU —State senators are pushing a bill that would fund and govern a Maui wildfire death and injury compensation fund, but the measure runs a risk of violating the Hawai‘i Constitution.

Winfrey and Johnson give millions to wildfire victims

Apr. 23, 2024

Lana Vierra misses the swing set at her Lahaina home, which was reduced to ashes in the wildfires that swept through her community last summer.

Thirty Meter Telescope project dependent on NSF funding

Apr. 23, 2024 • Updated 7:16 p.m.

HILO, Hawai‘i — The fate of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) rests in the hands of the Hawaiian community, observatory officials say.

Authorities on the lookout for distracted motorists

Apr. 23, 2024

LIHU‘E — The state of Hawai’i is encouraging motorist to prioritize road safety by refraining from using their cellphones while driving. Recent data ranks Hawai‘i as the second highest state in the nation for fatal crashes, making it imperative that drivers remain vigilant while on the road.

Regenerative tourism draws groups to isles

Apr. 23, 2024 • Updated 7:23 p.m.

HONOLULU — Members of the American Association of Geographers, who were in Honolulu for their 2024 annual meeting, volunteered Sunday during an ocean and beach park cleanup at Magic Island where tons of trash were removed from the polluted peninsula and ocean.

Hawai‘i lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals

Apr. 22, 2024 • Updated 9:29 a.m.

HONOLULU — Amy Chadwick spent years scrimping and saving as a single mother of two to buy a house in the town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

Proposed tourism impact fee dies for now

Apr. 22, 2024 • Updated 6:47 p.m.

HONOLULU — An effort to increase the state hotel tax by $25 to offset the impact of visitors on the environment and climate change has stalled this legislative session but the concept of a “green fee” remains alive and will likely return with a new funding plan next session.

Older Stories

La‘akea Chun joins Kaua‘i Charter Commission

Mitsunaga ordered to remain in jail for duration of trial

Maui mayor seeks more money to cover wildfire costs

Gov. Green pledges to sign rentals legislation

City touts ‘sustainable’ projects near Skyline

Kapa‘a house fire causes $500K in damage

Hawaiian Paradise Park shooting captured on video

Senate joins House in failing to ‘decriminalize’ cannabis

UH-Hilo faces enrollment challenges

‘Gut and replace’ bill pending at Legislature

Winfrey and Johnson give millions to wildfire victims

Thirty Meter Telescope project dependent on NSF funding

Authorities on the lookout for distracted motorists

Regenerative tourism draws groups to isles

Hawai‘i lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals

Proposed tourism impact fee dies for now

Lane closures scheduled on Kaua‘i

Coral reefs around the world are experiencing mass bleaching

Students learn about sectors of the economy

Hawai‘i Supreme Court chides state’s legal moves on water after deadly Lahaina Fire